Two Miss. residents killed in Sunday Ponchatoula crash

Two Miss. residents killed in Sunday Ponchatoula crash

Two Mississippi residents were killed Sunday night in a two vehicle crash near the northbound end of the Interstate 55 high rise in Ponchatoula, Louisiana State Police said.

Troopers’ investigation revealed that the 6:30 p.m. crash occurred as a 2003 Mercury Mountaineer, driven by 23 year old Brandon Hampton of Clinton, was traveling north in the right lane of I-55, State Police said in a news release. Traveling alongside the Mercury was a 1999 Mack 18 wheeler in the left northbound lane. As both vehicles continued north, State Police said, the Mercury drifted left across the center line and sideswiped the right side of the 18 wheeler.

Upon impact, Hampton overcorrected to the right causing the vehicle to run off road and overturn as it entered a canal along the east side of the interstate, coming to rest upside down in about five feet of water, State Police said.

The driver of the 18 wheeler, who was wearing a seat belt and was not injured, submitted to a breath alcohol test showing no detectable signs of alcohol in his system, State Police said.

Both Hampton and front seat passenger in the Mercury, 23 year old Amanda Booker of Jackson, were unable to exit the vehicle following the crash and died, according to the release.

Impairment is unknown at this time pending the results of a toxicology examination.